Uncapped NFL year is at perfect time for Bolts

The NFL’s living room went dark Friday. A few of the have-nots moved boldly — blindly? — forward. Most continue to hold out their arms, feeling their way, tiptoeing, searching for light. The Chargers are among those trying to find the switch.

But they also are playing the offseason game just right.

“It’s a unique year in so many ways,” Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith says. “We’re working our way through it, slowly.”

The NFL’s “uncapped year” is upon us, which plainly means there’s no salary cap. But it’s also confusing, because top teams can’t spend like sheiks, and many players who were about to become unrestricted free agents are restricted, so cuffs can be applied.

The uncapped year comes at the perfect time for the Chargers, because they were loaded down with good players who were about to become unrestricted. The club put the highest possible tender on linebacker Shawne Merriman, receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd, left tackle Marcus McNeill and tailback Darren Sproles. So, if another team offers them a deal — and San Diego doesn’t match it — that club must surrender first- and third-round draft choices.

So it’s highly likely Jackson, Floyd, McNeil and Merriman — probably one season left here for Shawne — will return in 2011. Sproles I wouldn’t be too sure about, even though Smith released LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Bennett, his No. 1 and No. 3 tailbacks. If Sproles were gone, it would leave the team without its top three backs.

Common thinking is the Chargers reversed their field on Sproles after saying they would be setting him free a week ago. But something happened last week at the NFL Combine. Once there, maybe Smith discovered a few teams had a hearty appetite for the versatile back. Washington reportedly was interested in Sproles, and I know new ’Skins GM Bruce Allen is very close with Smith.

“We didn’t change our mind on Darren,” Smith says. “We didn’t flip. The media made it gospel, that he’s gone. Lo and behold, we tender the guy and people are shocked.”

Smith is smart enough to know it’s doubtful any team will give up a one and three for Sproles, who probably can’t be an every-down back. But that doesn’t mean the GM won’t listen to other teams. They can negotiate down to lower picks.

“Are we locked in stone at one and three?” Smith says. “Would we lessen that, negotiate down? Could it drop to a two? I don’t know. I can’t speak for what’s going on in other buildings.”

If Sproles doesn’t reach a long-term deal with the club and remains a Charger, he will earn $7.2 million in 2010. That’s an awful lot for a third-down back, but he’s also more affordable now than he was a year ago.

In 2009, Tomlinson earned $6.8 million, Sproles $6.6 million and Bennett $1.2 million. Even if Sproles remains, it’s unlikely the Chargers will be spending an additional $6 million on running backs this year, whether they come through the draft, trade or free agency.